Redhat: Using display/consolehelper gives "Unknown Error"

Darrell22 · 12-30-2012, 12:11 AM

Dear Experts,

I'm using Redhat 5.

cat redhat-release
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.5 (Tikanga)

uname -a
Linux black.testrac.com 2.6.18-194.el5 #1 SMP Mon Mar 29 22:10:29 EDT 2010 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

When I go to check the display settings, I
get a popup window, displaying the message:
"Unknown Error"

My analysis is below.

I sense that it cannot find a particular file.
Would this make sense from the trace output.

What would be an effective solution?

Thanks a lot!

---

The file is:
/usr/bin/system-config-display

file /usr/bin/system-config-display
/usr/bin/system-config-display: symbolic link to `consolehelper'

which consolehelper
/usr/bin/consolehelper

whatis consolehelper
consolehelper (8) - A wrapper that helps console users run system programs

rpm -qf /usr/bin/consolehelper

usermode-1.88-3.el5.2

rpm -ql usermode-1.88-3.el5.2

/etc/pam.d/halt
/etc/pam.d/poweroff
/etc/pam.d/reboot
/etc/security/console.apps/halt
/etc/security/console.apps/poweroff
/etc/security/console.apps/reboot
/usr/bin/consolehelper
/usr/bin/halt
/usr/bin/poweroff
/usr/bin/reboot
/usr/sbin/userhelper
/usr/share/locale/ar/LC_MESSAGES/usermode.mo

...

ltrace -S consolehelper &

...
SYS_stat("/usr/local/share/icons/gnome", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/usr/share/icons/gnome", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = 0
SYS_stat("/usr/local/share/pixmaps/gnome", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/usr/share/pixmaps/gnome", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/root/.icons/hicolor", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/root/.local/share/icons/hicolor", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/usr/local/share/icons/hicolor", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/usr/share/icons/hicolor", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = 0
SYS_stat("/usr/local/share/pixmaps/hicolor", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/usr/share/pixmaps/hicolor", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/root/.icons", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/root/.local/share/icons", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/usr/local/share/icons", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/usr/share/icons", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = 0
SYS_stat("/usr/local/share/pixmaps", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = -2
SYS_stat("/usr/share/pixmaps", 0x7fff8b3e9b60) = 0
SYS_write(4, "\232\007\002", 5320) = 5320
SYS_ioctl(4, 21531, 0x7fff8b3ec59c, 0, 0) = 0
SYS_poll(0x113dd670, 1, -1, 0, 3) = 1
SYS_ioctl(4, 21531, 0x7fff8b3ec5ac, 0, 0) = 0
SYS_read(4, "\004\001\362\002N\036D\352D", 32) = 32
SYS_write(4, "\022", 28) = 28
SYS_ioctl(4, 21531, 0x7fff8b3ec59c, 0, 0) = 0
SYS_read(4, "\034", 32) = 32
SYS_poll(0x113dd670, 1, 0, 0, 3) = 0
SYS_ioctl(4, 21531, 0x7fff8b3ec49c, 112, 6) = 0
SYS_ioctl(4, 21531, 0x7fff8b3ec59c, 0, 0) = 0
SYS_poll(0x113dd670, 1, 0, 0, 3) = 0
SYS_writev(4, 0x7fff8b3ea840, 2, 2, 2) = 20460
SYS_write(4, "\232\007\002", 968) = 968
SYS_ioctl(4, 21531, 0x7fff8b3ec59c, 0, 0) = 0
SYS_poll(0x113dd670, 1, -1, 0, 3) = 1
SYS_ioctl(4, 21531, 0x7fff8b3ec5ac, 0, 0) = 0
SYS_read(4, "\005\001\316\003t\036D\352D", 32) = 32
SYS_write(4, "\020", 12) = 12
SYS_read(4, ???, 32) = -11
SYS_poll(0x113b6b50, 1, -1, 63, 0) = 1
SYS_read(4, "\001t\317\003", 32) = 32
<... gtk_dialog_run resumed> ) = 0xfffffff9
gtk_widget_destroy(0x113f0000, 2, 2, 917504, 2) = 0x113e03f0
gtk_main_quit(0x3acae3fc80, 0, 0, 4, 20) = 0
<... g_signal_emit_by_name resumed> ) = 1
SYS_write(4, "\031", 204) = 204
SYS_read(4, ???, 32) = -11
SYS_poll(0x113b6b50, 1, -1, 0, 0) = 1
SYS_read(4, "\022", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\n", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\n\001\321\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\t\005\321\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\b", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\b\001\321\003\224\036D\352D", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\022'\323\003)", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\021\014\323\003)", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\022\006\324\003*", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\021\006\324\003*", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\021\347\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\034\233\337\003\003", 32) = 32
SYS_read(4, "\001", 32) = 32
<... gtk_main resumed> ) = 0x113b8520
SYS_exit_group(0 <no return ...>
+++ exited (status 0) +++

------

strace consolehelper &

write(4, "5\30\4\0>\0\320\1\3\0\320\1\266\0\200\0\232\4\5\0?\0\320\1>\0\320\0010\0\0\0"..., 200) = 200
read(4, 0x7fff1b0b6f90, 32) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, -1) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
read(4, "\1\2\371\0\0\0\0\0\4\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\234\35\5\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
shmctl(4980756, IPC_RMID, 0) = 0
writev(4, [{"\222\5\7\0B\0\320\1D\0\0\0\0\6@\0 \4\5\0A\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\232\4\5\0"..., 13216}, {"\0\0U\0\0\0V\0\0\200Y\0\0\0U\0\0\200Y\0\0\0V\0\0\200\245\0\0\0U\0"..., 3600}], 2) = 16816
brk(0x8f02000) = 0x8f02000
brk(0x8f01000) = 0x8f01000
brk(0x8ef8000) = 0x8ef8000
write(4, "\232\7\2\0q\0\320\1\232\7\2\0r\0\320\0016\4\2\0p\0\320\0015 \4\0s\0\320\1"..., 7144) = 7144
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, -1) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [32]) = 0
read(4, "\7\0\0\2:\234=\352D\0\0\0\3\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\216\2\333\1d\0\3\0\0\0\0\2", 32) = 32
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, -1) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [32]) = 0
read(4, "\10\2\0\2R\234=\352D\0\0\0\3\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\232\2\344\1p\0\f\0\0\0\0\2", 32) = 32
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, -1) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [32]) = 0
read(4, "\7\2\0\2\202\234=\352D\0\0\0\3\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\264\2\374\1\212\0$\0\0\0\0\2", 32) = 32
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, -1) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [64]) = 0
read(4, "\10\2\0\2Z\235=\352D\0\0\0\3\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\323\2I\2\251\0q\0\0\0\0\2"..., 64) = 64
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
writev(4, [{"5\30\4\0\206\0\320\1\3\0\320\1U\0 \0\232\4\5\0\207\0\320\1\206\0\320\0010\0\0\0"..., 16272}, {"\0\200\5\0\0\200\34\0\0\0\2\0\0\200\5\0\0\0\2\0\0\200\34\0\0\0\3\0\0\200\5\0"..., 1000}], 2) = 17272
write(4, "\232\7\2\0\266\0\320\1\232\7\2\0\267\0\320\0016\4\2\0\265\0\320\1\232\6\5\0\207\0\320\1"..., 5320) = 5320
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, -1) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [32]) = 0
read(4, "\4\1\362\0026\240=\352D\0\0\0*\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\305\2<\2F\0\20\0\0\0\1\0", 32) = 32
write(4, "\22\0\7\0\3\0\320\1\373\0\0\0\6\0\0\0 \4\2\0\1\0\0\0006\240=\352", 28) = 28
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [32]) = 0
read(4, "\34\0\363\2\3\0\320\1\373\0\0\0006\240=\352\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\373\0\0\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
writev(4, [{"5\30\4\0\305\0\320\1\3\0\320\1U\0 \0\232\4\5\0\306\0\320\1\305\0\320\0010\0\0\0"..., 16340}, {"\0\0\4\0\0\0\5\0\0\0\5\0\0\0\4\0\0\0\5\0\0\0\5\0\0\0\6\0\0\0\4\0"..., 4120}], 2) = 20460
write(4, "\232\7\2\0\362\0\320\1\232\7\2\0\363\0\320\0016\4\2\0\361\0\320\1\232\4\6\0\364\0\320\1"..., 968) = 968
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [0]) = 0
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, -1) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
ioctl(4, FIONREAD, [32]) = 0
read(4, "\5\1\316\3B\240=\352D\0\0\0*\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\305\2<\2F\0\20\0\0\1\1\0", 32) = 32
write(4, "\20\0\3\0\4\0\320\1NONE", 12) = 12
read(4, "\1t\317\3\0\0\0\0K\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0000 \5\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
write(4, "\31\0\v\0D\0\0\0\0\0\30\0! \0\0\3\0\320\1\362\0\0\0\0\0\0\0/\1\0\0"..., 204) = 204
read(4, 0x7fff1b0b9910, 32) = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)
poll([{fd=4, events=POLLIN}], 1, -1) = 1 ([{fd=4, revents=POLLIN}])
read(4, "\22\0\321\3\3\0\320\1\3\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\200wx\20\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\n\0\321\3\4\0\320\1\0\0\10\0\1\0\0\0@k\376&\377\177\0\0000\262\217\20\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\n\1\321\3\3\0\320\1\0\227\24\20\0\0\0\0000\262\217\20\0\0\0\0\32QE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\t\5\321\3\3\0\320\1\0\227\24\20\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\32QE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\10\0\321\3B\240=\352D\0\0\0*\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\305\2<\2F\0\20\0\0\0\0\3", 32) = 32
read(4, "\10\1\321\3B\240=\352D\0\0\0\3\0\320\1*\0\320\1\305\2<\2\233\0d\0\0\0\0\3", 32) = 32
read(4, "\22\262\323\3)\0\320\1)\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\t\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0000@\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\21\263\323\3)\0\320\1)\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\22\322\324\3*\0\320\1*\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\360Nx\20\0\0\0\0\210\271}\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\21\322\324\3*\0\320\1*\0\320\1\0\0\0\0)\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\210\271}\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\21x\337\3\3\0\320\1\3\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\3\0\320\1\0\0\0\0\210\271}\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\373\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\27\1\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1h\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1W\1\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\354\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1C\1\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\362\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1#\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\371\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\370\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\347\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\360\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\351\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1$\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1(\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\352\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1C\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1%\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\356\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1'\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\34\233\337\3\3\0\320\1\357\0\0\0B\240=\352\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0gZE\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32
read(4, "\1\0\340\3\0\0\0\0\207(a\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0\0000 \5\0\0\0\0\0", 32) = 32

kbp · 12-31-2012, 09:45 PM

You shouldn't be running consolehelper directly .. excerpt from the man page:

Quote:

It is intended to be completely transparent. This means that the user
will never run the consolehelper program directly. Instead, programs
like /sbin/shutdown are paired with a link from /usr/bin/shutdown to
/usr/bin/consolehelper. Then when non-root users (specifically, users
without /sbin in their path, or /sbin after /usr/bin) call the "shut‐
down" program, consolehelper will be invoked to authenticate the action
and then invoke /sbin/shutdown.

Basically by symlinking your app to consolehelper, a normal user will need to authenticate via pam.

To troubleshoot try running:

Code:

strace -o /tmp/scd_trace -f /usr/bin/system-config-display

When looking at the output file, jump to the end then scroll up until you find the error.